Maps reference enquiries

Here are three examples of the kind of enquiry that the Maps Reference Team can help you with.

If your enquiry requires in-depth research or more specialist help than we can provide we will forward your enquiry to the appropriate person, refer you to our Research Service or suggest alternative sources of help.

Please could you advise me of the historical map coverage of Feckenham, Worcestershire.

The Map Collections hold detailed large scale Ordnance Survey maps (6” and 25” to 1 mile) dating back to the later nineteenth century. Prior to this there are the 1” to 1 mile printed maps and the 2” to 1 mile Ordnance Surveyor’s Drawings from which the 1” was derived.

These can also be viewed in the Online Gallery on the Library's website.

For the 18th century there are large scale county maps (1” or 2” to 1 mile). Prior to 1700 county maps are much less detailed.

There is also, in our collection, an 18th century estate map of Feckenham, which is a copy of a 16th century plan. (shelfmark Maps M.T.6.b.1.)

In order to pursue your research it would be advisable to visit the Maps Reading Room; you would need to register for a Reader Pass. If it is not possible to visit, try the Library's Imaging Services.

I am trying to trace Great College Street in Camden and St Aloysius RC Chapel in Pancras Parish. Both existed in the 1880s.

We have checked the Ordnance Survey 5’ London and Names of streets and places in the Administrative County of London’ (LCC, 1955) and found that Great College Street is now Royal College Street.

The OS 5’ New Series map (1874) placed St Aloysius Chapel in Clarendon Square, where St Aloysius Infant School now stands in Phoenix Road. The chapel was demolished but has been rebuilt. There is an image of the original chapel dated 1853 on Collage, the City of London Libraries and Guildhall Art Gallery’s website.

I’m looking for a detailed hand drawn map of Marrakesh. Does the British Library have a selection of old and new maps of Marrakesh that can be copied for a student project?

I have looked through our catalogue and index of manuscript maps but cannot find a manuscript map of Marrakesh. However, I have found a map of 1930 Plan de Marrakesh (shelfmark Maps 64037.(21.)

This map can only be viewed in our Maps Reading Room; you would need to register for a Reader Pass.